Portable bathtub equipment



Oct. 4, 1932. E. J. HARING L88L405 PORTABLE BATETUE EQUIPMENT Fied Aug. 7, 1951 Altorney Patented Oct. 4, 1932 Laarne rarer ELIZABETH JANE HARING, OF ySPOKANE, WASHINGTON roR'rABLE BATHTB EQUIPMENT Application `filed August?, 1931. Serial No. 555,708.

and safety, and a table for convenience of4 the mother, nurse, or other attendant who administers the bath to the child.

IThe table is preferably of thev foldableV type, and the flexibletub and its accessories are of such construction as will permit the 4 equipment tobe folded into compact forni for storage purposes when not in use. The invention consists VVin certain novel combinations and arrangemcnts'of parts as legs are preferably provided with rubber will hereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed. In the accompanying -drawingfl have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wheref in the parts are combined and arranged ac- Y cording to the best mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure l isa perspective view f the portable bathing equipment, set up and ready for use in a standard household or domestic bath tub.

Figure 2 is an enlarged, vertical, transverse sectional view throughv the table top, the flexible bath tub, and the apron, the latter shown in position for use as an auxiliary rest or flexible pad for supporting the baby after the bath, and while dressing it.

Figure 3 is a sectional detail view showing the manner of fastening or anchoring the reinforced, cushioned rim of the flexible tub to the table top, and showing also one of the snap fasteners for the apron when it is used as a dressing pad, after the bath.

Figure 4l is a view in section of a portion of the flexible tub showing the draining features. y

Figure 5 is an enlarged view showingl a rubber ferrule on one of the table legs for safety, and to prevent scratching or marring by the table legs. Y

' In Figure l a preferred manner is illustrated for using the equipment, in connection with the usual domestic bathtub 1 that is provided with faucets F where watermay conveniently be obtained for the bath, but it will be apparent that the portable equipment maybe employed in other ways in the performance of various functions.

ln carrying out my invention l utilize a table', here shown as rectangular in shape, and

of proper height to bring its top 2 up to a level'that is convenient for use by the nurse or mother when bathing a child, and the size and shape of the table are preferably such `thatwill permit its use in the standard size bath tub l, as indicated in Figure l.- The four legs 3 of the table are foldable, and v braced by the usual pivoted links l between the table top and the legs, and the feet of the ferrules 5 to prevent the legs from slipping and to prevent scratching or inarring of the surface ofthe tub l.

The top 2 of the table is preferably of sheet metal, and enameled for sanitary purposes,

and the top, which is provided with an edge flange 6 for reinforcement, is fashioned with an opening whose edges are countersunk as at "Z, and these countersunk edges are fashioned with a depressed, grooved rim or flange 8, The flexible bath tub 9 is of generally rec tangular shape and is suspended within the complementary opening of the table top, and Y the tub may be fashioned from suitable mavterial as rubber, rubberized fabric, and simi- -lar goods.

Near the rim of the flexible tub its side walls are thickened as at l0 to form a cushion for comfort and safety to the child, and,

'also for-the purpose of insuring a semi--I rigid anclioring support for the body of the bility ofthe walls of the tub, and should the. Y

baby topple over from either side, or forfl i adjacent, the opening.

bers 23 are designed to snap over the rounded ward or backward, the cushioned walls provide a soft and harmless impact for the safety of the child.

The thickened rim 11 of the flexible tub and the cushioned side walls 10 are reinforced by the use of wire mesh as 12 embedded therein for the purpose of stiffening these parts, and a wire band 13 is also encased within the rim near its edge. As best seen in Figure 3 the wire band forms a bead 14 in the rim that extends around the. four sides of the rim, and the lower ridge of this bead is seated in the grooved-y or depressed flange 8 surrounding the opening in the table top.

rllhe stiffened rim of the flexible tub lies .flat ron the countersunk edges 7 and the grooves 8 -ofthe table top, and a suitable number of fastening bolts 15 are passed through holes in the table and stilfened rim, which, together with the nuts 16 threaded on the bolts against the underside of the table top, and the circular gaskets v17 on top of the rim ofthe flexible tub, firmly anchor or fasten the stiffened rim on the table top. The bead 14e, tting snugly in the groove 8, re-

lieves .the rim of some of the strain due to the weight, of the body in the tub, and assists in holding the tub in correct position and proper shape.

The heads 18 of the bolts, are rounded, as shown, and project above the gaskets 17,* for the purpose tobe described. f

Y At the bottom of the flexible tub an outlet,

or drain thimble or sleeve 1.9 is provided,-

and the screw plug 20, which is anchored to the exterior of the tub by means'of the` chain 21, is withdrawn from the thimble 19 when it is desired tov drain the tub. seen in Figure t the drain thimble and plug are surrounded by the material of the tub, through the use of an exterior offset in the wall of the tub, for the purpose of preventing contact of the body with the metal parts.

A detachable apron 22, of material similar to that of the flexible tub, of rectangular shape, and with an opening therein complementary to the open top of the tub, is` provided. with socket-members 23, around its outer edge, around its edge-opening, andtransversely across its intermediate portion rfhese socket memlel with the top of the table, and the free edges of the folded portion of the apron are fastened on the heads 18 by the use of the socket members 28. In this position the apron covers the open top of the tub and forms a flexible pad on which the baby may be laid for towelling and dressing. The iiexible apron is depressed under the weight of the baby, and sags, as indicated in Figure 2 by dotted lines, to form a slight or shallow receptacle that will prevent the baby rolling off the pad, or otherwise injuring itself by squirming upon the yi'eldable pad. The metal table top 2 at the right of the pad, in Figure 1 may be used to receive the clothing, soap, toilet articles and other accessories, and` they are thus rea ily accessible when required.

While I have shown4 the portable bath tub used in Vconnection with the stationary bath tub, it will be understood that the table and flexible tub form a portable unit that may be folded into compact form for traveling, motoring, camping, or visiting, and the equipment may be set up for use in any convenient place.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, as new and desire to secure by VLetters Patent is:

1. In a portable bathing apparatus the Y combination withy a table having a topl and an .'Openino therein, of a flexible bathtub having stiffened edges, means for fastening said edges to the table top, an apron having an opening-therein,V` and means on the apron for col-operation with said fastening means for attaching the apron about the opening ofthe bathtub.

2, In a portable bathing apparatus, the combination withatable having a top andan openinY therein,`of a flexible bath tub having` sti ened edges, fastening bolts for securing said edges to the tabletop, fastening heads on` the bolts, v an apron having an opening complementary to vthe opening ofthe tub, and fastening members onthe apron for co-operation with said fastening heads wherebythe apron may be attached in folded pos'itio'nror in unfolded position. Intestiinony whereoffI affix my signature.

ELIZABTPI JANE HARING.

heads 18 of the bolts, in order that the open end of the apron may be attachedv or fastened to the tub and table, as indicated in Figures 1 and B, leaving theap/ron to hang as indicated in Figure 1 at the side of the table. This hanging or flap portion ofthe apron in Figure 1 may be hungwith its lower.

free end inside the tub 1, for use as a shield,

when, 'the plug 2O is withdrawn and the ilexible tub is beingdrained.

After the bath, the apron 22 is turned up and'folded over paralflap portion of thel 

